Investigate the microscopic brain of Daphnia magna!
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Alignment
3-LS4-2. Use evidence to construct an explanation for how the variations in characteristics among individuals of the same species may provide advantages in surviving, finding mates, and reproducing.
4-LS1-1. Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.
Learning Outcomes
- Students learn that even small animals have brains.
- Students learn how to use a microscope to study anatomy, physiology, and ecology of a small organism.
Discussion Questions
1. How can you find out if an animal has a brain?
2. Do bugs have brains?
3. What can we discover about small organisms using a microscope?
Video 1
Video 2
Vocabulary
Nervous system: part of an animal body that receives and interpret information from the five senses, and responds to these stimuli with action plans; in humans and other vertebrates, it includes the brain, the spinal cord and the nerves
Brain: an organ located in the skull of human and other vertebrates, that serves as the control center for the nervous system.
Dissection: methodically cut up a body/organ to study its inner parts
Model organism: non-human species that is studied extensively; discoveries made studying a model organisms can be applied to other organisms, or help understand a larger biological issue
Daphnia: a small semi transparent crustacean (a smaller cousin of shrimps, crabs and lobsters)
Pipette: tool that scientists use to transfer liquids; it looks a little bit like an eye dropper
Microscope: an instrument that allows people to look at objects that are too small to be seen by just the human eye.
Microscope slides: a thin piece of glass or plastic used to hold objects to look at under a microscope.
Microscope stage: The flat platform where you place your slides.
Compound eye: type of eye common in arthropods (such as insects and crustaceans), made of many individual visual units
Filter feeder: animals that eat by straining little food particles from water
Review
We can use a microscope to look at small organisms and their brain.
Daphnia is a small organism that lives in ponds.
Even small organisms such as Daphnia have a nervous system that regulated functions important to their survival.
